In this double matchup, we take a look at a competitive group I, where all four teams are still mathematically able to occupy either of the top two sports. In our first match, Salzburg, who will be looking to further stamp their authority on the group I as league leaders with a win, will play against the bottom of the table Guimaraes, who would do very well to come away with a win and a draw probably being their target. In the other match, Marseille will look to overcome some recent difficulties to assume their rightful qualification spot by defeating Konyaspor, as the side that has never made the next round of the Europa League.
Salzburg (Aut) vs. Guimares (Por)
Three-Way: 1: Salzburg -227; X: +450 Draw; Guimares +950 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread -1.5: Salzburg +110; Guimares -109
Total +3: Over +120; Under -125
Salzburg
Austrian champions Salzburg have been in excellent domestic form, leading their domestic league and going unbeaten since the end of August. Salzburg’s last match on Sunday will be a particular highlight of the season for their fans as they overcame Sturm Graz with a clean sheet and five goals scored to leapfrog themselves into top position, with two late goals coming from Munas Dabbur who has netted eleven times in fourteen matches this season.
As well as Salzburg’s unbeaten domestic run, the Austrian side have also gone unbeaten in Europe, leading group I with two wins and two draws. Their last fixture was a dull and disappointing 0:0 home draw to Konyaspor, but they will be hoping to better that result against their next opponents to ensure progression; the last time they did so was in the 2014-15 season, getting knocked out by Villarreal in the round of 32.
Manager Marco Rose will have a full squad for Thursday’s match other than defensive midfielder Diadie Samassekou with influenza.
Guimares
Vitoria Guimaraes first eleven games this season in the Portuguese Primeira Liga has by no means been disastrous, but they have so far failed to convince fans that they are able to repeat their successful fourth place finish last season that won them European football. One of Guimaraes’s major issues this year has been their defense, having conceded twenty-one goals already at this early stage of the season.
The Portuguese side is still with a fighting chance of progression to the next stage of the Europa League, despite currently sitting in the fourth position of Group I with four points, as they are just two points below the second spot. That being said, everything seems against their favor to progress at the moment, having to win away at the group leader’s home ground in their next match, and qualification having been out of their grasp for the previous two seasons.
Manager Pedro Martins will have a full squad for Thursday’s fixture other than left-back Joao Vigario who is out with an injury.
Salzburg (Aut) vs. Guimares (Por) – Match Prediction:
Salzburg’s form has been far stronger than their opponents this season, and additionally, they have done well in the Europa League so far, so the confidence will be with the Austrian side. Furthermore, Salzburg have the home advantage, and their opponents have a leaky defense, so I think there are enough signs to suggest that Salzburg can win with a clear score-line.
MY PICK: Salzburg -1.5 AH (+110)
Konyaspor (Tur) vs. Marseille (Fra)
Three-Way: 1: Konyaspor +330; X: +260 Draw; 2: Marseille +114 at BetDSI Sportsbook
Spread +0.5: Konyaspor -106; Marseille +102
Total +2.5: Over +114; Under -118
Konyaspor
Having qualified for the Europa League through winning the Turkish Cup last season, Konyaspor is not one of the big boys in the Turkish Super Lig, and this has been displayed for all to see in this season’s league campaign. They currently find themselves in fifteenth position, just one position above relegation having won just once in their last eight competitive matches.
Despite not being one of Turkey’s prestigious sides, Konyaspor has made a decent showing of themselves in this season’s Europa League competition. The Turkish side won their first Europa League match at home to Vitoria de Guimaraes under two months ago, while they also managed a draw away at Salzburg in their last European fixture. Even if Konyaspor failed to gain another point, it would still be a remarkable improvement on last season, their first appearance in the Europa League, when they only managed a solitary point.
Manager Mehmet Ozdilek will be without forward Abdou Traore, defensive-midfielder Jens Jonsson and left-back Eren Albayarak through injury.
Marseille
Marseille’s recent form has been mixed in Ligue 1 recently, achieving great wins like the emphatic 5:0 thrashing of Caen or a solid 1:0 win away to Lille, but those results have been paralleled by results like a recent 1:1 draw away at Bordeaux and some dodgy European results. That being said, Marseille’s side is full of talent, with the likes of Clinton N’Jie, Dmitri Payet, and Lucas Ocampos driving the team forward on the goals-front, but often being let down by a defense that should be tighter considering the experience that they possess.
Further wasted experience was shown through the recent sacking of ex-French international Patrice Evra after he kicked a Marseille fan in the head before their last European match against Vitoria Guimaraes away in Portugal. The event seemed to take its toll on the Marseille players as they limped to a 1:0 defeat in a game that they were expected to win. Despite the poor result, Marseille is still in a qualifying position, just behind Salzburg by two points. The Marseille faithful will fully expect a win from their side to start to make up for the recent debacle regarding Patrice Evra and to help their side qualify as they did in their last Europa League campaign back in the 2015-16 season.
Manager Rudi Garcia will be with a full squad for Thursday’s game, other than defensive-midfielder Boubacar Kamara, who is out due to suspension, but would have likely missed the match anyway due to a malleolar injury.
Konyaspor (Tur) vs. Marseille (Fra) – Match Prediction:
Despite having some hurdles to overcome recently, and finding some hard to jump over, Marseille should have enough about them to defeat a side that is nearing the relegation zone of the Turkish league, a league that is weaker than the French league where Marseille currently sit in the fourth position. Expect a convincing win for Marseille to show Europe that their back in business.
MY PICK: Marseille +0.5 AH (+102)
Additional Pick: Over 2.5 goals (+114)
